By Carly Freilich Special correspondent
While most students are sitting around scrolling through instagram, one high school junior stands out for her extraordinary adventures.
Colette Snyder, a Holliston High School student with a passion for exploring the world, has been traveling as long as she can remember, shaping her unique perspective on life. Her story is not just about the destinations she’s visited but the profound impact travel has had on her and her family.
Her parents, who are globally oriented, prioritized exploring the world, and they passed on their knowledge and passion for discovery to their children. With her father now working remotely, Snyder’s family has taken advantage of the opportunity to travel even more, especially since the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic loosened.
“The outbreak of the coronavirus significantly impacted my views on travel,” said Snyder. Previously, I hadn’t always taken the time to appreciate how special being able to travel is. However, after reflecting, I made the most of each trip.”
Experiencing diverse cultures and meeting people from all over has opened her eyes to the commonalities that unite people. In some of her recent travels, Snyder has had the opportunity to stay with local homestays. This perspective has made her globally oriented and open-minded; two qualities she cherishes. “It’s an incredible glimpse into their lives. I’ve done many homestays in Asia and Africa” Snyder noted.
Photo credit: Colette Snyder
Pictured: Victoria Falls (top) and on a nearby safari (bottom)
She’s also a fan of walking and history tours, which offer fascinating insights into the history of new cities. Her perspective on the most outgoing people (Canada), the best food (Japan), and the importance of culture (China) reflect her diverse experiences.
“I’m biased because I’m a dual citizen of Canada and the United States, but I’d say that Canada has the friendliest people,” concluded Snyder. “My mom, who is Canadian, can be quoted saying, “‘don’t worry, she’ll be nice: she’s Canadian.’”
In Snyder’s opinion, “Japan has the best food by far. The sushi, ramen, and tempura are all impeccable.” She ensured that,“Italian food also deserves an honorable mention.”
Travel has also cultivated how she feels about her own heritage and created a desire for her to be involved in learning about it. She describes China as being one of the most influential trips of her life.
“I’ve been three times, and each time I’ve gotten older, I’ve come with a new perspective on the world. I’m also half Chinese, so learning about my culture has impacted my sense of identity” Snyder said passionately.
Along with discovering new ways of life, travel has allowed Snyder to pursue her own interests while traveling. “Because I do ballet, I’m very interested in learning about local types of dance,” she explained. “I’ve been doing ballet since Kindergarten. I’ve watched a lot of folk dance shows in Europe and Africa, for example the whirling dervishes in Turkey!” Snyder said.
Wilson Snyder, her father, introduced his perspective on the importance of travel. In an email interview, he revealed that travel helps “foster independence, by getting around a new city alone, by realizing how people are both the same and different across cultures, by breaking stereotypes about how other countries are, and by learning languages and geography by ‘being there’…It’s time spent together when we’re rarely on our phones!”
Snyder added, “these trips often bring us closer and aid our communication skills. While traveling, obstacles inevitably occur, and working around them together has helped us get closer.”
Wilson recalled one of the most impactful events his family encountered on a trip. “The most dramatic change was visiting the pandas in Sichuan, China, and an hour later being near the epicenter of the Magnitude 8 earthquake,” he said. “Fortunately it didn’t harm us, and we didn’t even realize how bad it was until we heard a news report from outside and saw the refugees at the local train station. From this we learned it’s easy to change plans on-the-go if we want to, ” he added.
Snyder has already visited over 70 countries, but her travel bucket list is far from empty. “My favorites include Bulgaria, Italy, Brazil, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe,” she said. “Seeing Victoria Falls remains one of my favorite memories…because we did a lot of fun activities like a boat cruise and a safari,” added Snyder.
Skiing in Zermatt, Switzerland, swimming with dolphins, and returning to Peru for the Inca trek to Machu Picchu are just a few of the adventures she dreams of undertaking and remain at the top of her list.
Oddly enough, when Snyder was asked what his favorite memory was traveling with Snyder, he referred to their quest to Machu Picchu. It was undeniably a universal experience for these two considering there were countless trips for Snyder to deem his favorite and he ironically picked the one place Snyder wanted to return to the most.
Wilson described, “we had a day hike to Machu Picchu, which was a major effort, especially after a local labor strike closed the railroad and we had to walk out. But it was rewarding in terms of sights, and time to discuss together.”
Snyder’s journey isn’t without its challenges, especially when it comes to juggling school, travel, and her passion for ballet. “It takes a lot of time out of my schedule. I dance five-six days a week” said Snyder.
As a junior in high school, she’s found ways to manage her responsibilities including, “talking directly to her teachers because the school doesn’t usually accommodate [her] traveling.”
“It’s stressful to manage school and travel at times, but it’s so interesting to connect what I’m learning about to the real world. For example, traveling to France with my mom, who speaks French, has drastically improved my French skills” stated Snyder.
Snyder’s former French teacher provides insights into how students like her can manage their education while traveling. She discussed the benefits and challenges of students exploring the world during designated school hours and shared her experiences in accommodating students who miss school for travel.
“It’s challenging because you’re missing class but you get so much out of it, so if there’s a way to accommodate for school work, missed time, and find that balance to keep up with work and lost time then it’s fine” said French teacher Mme. Edith Nelson. “But not every student has the motivation or capacity to accomplish that,” she added.
When asked if Mme. Nelson thinks Snyder has that level of capability, she eagerly replied, “ I think Colette does. I think she has the drive to be the best student she can be, and therefore it’s easier when you have a drive to succeed and accomplish all the requirements needed for a class. If you’re able to make sacrifices for missing school, but make up for it then it’s a challenge but it’s not impossible.”
She documents her trips by taking countless photos. Snyder shared that “this has caused my phone storage to be perpetually full. The many photos I take end up on my Instagram account, designated for travel photos and life updates. Or on my family’s website, which houses all our travel photos and trip descriptions.”
“Finally, we also have a massive framed map in our house. Every time we go to a new country, we have a tradition of sticking a new pin into the map.”
What’s next on the horizon for Snyder and her family? A journey to Petra in Jordan during Christmas break, and a visit to Canada to see her grandmother near Banff National Park. With her dad as the master planner and her family’s input, each adventure promises to be an unforgettable experience.
The Panther Press 